Welcome to 2015

Another year has gone and 2014 becomes the past, a memory. Now people are filled with the optimism that a new year brings, with plans and resolutions making up a list that would go on for miles. It is also a time to reflect on the past year, remembering both the good and bad that 2014 gave us.
 
University is still influencing my life, even though I'm not there:
For me, 2014 was a good year. On reflection is was filled with more happy moments than bad ones and yet I still want to make sure that 2015 is even better. If we rewind to the very beginning of the year it saw me celebrate the New Year with some of my closest friends. Unbeknown to me, it was also the last time that I would be celebrating with some people. With University becoming an ever more important and influential milestone in their lives some of my high school friends weren't around this year to celebrate. Everything in that aspect of my life has radically changed this year especially since everybody went back to Uni after the summer break in September. Out of everybody that moved away in the September of 2013 I can count on one hand the people I still regularly speak to. I've never voiced this but I suppose if you haven't made a significant impact on a person's life before they moved away, you never will. Perhaps the closest to a friend you will be now is on Facebook. It's scary to think that 20 years ago you would have lost contact with them altogether. 
 Sometimes I regret not staying it contact with some people, other times I don't. We are still all so young with the rest of our lives to figure out and so what will be will be. I like to think of it as a brilliant chapter that has now come to an end and all of the people I am thinking of whilst typing this have made it brilliant even if they don't know it.

A thousand words cannot describe what we witness with our own eyes:
The New Year started off a bit of a slow burner. I remember myself just being generally busy working and actually starting to enjoy spending time by myself every once in a while. However, the second part of the year was definitely the most enjoyable for me.
  I finally decided to take some deserved time off work and started doing more things that didn't include washing my work uniform or getting my alarm set for the Monday morning back to work feeling.
 There are so many highlights from July onwards including Sundown Festival, my 19th birthday and seeing both Ed Sheeran and OneRepublic at the O2 Arena. There were also so many memories made with friends even on a weekly basis from generally just spending more time together. In 2014 I had my first ever experience of both playing and winning Bingo in a way that was actually considered serious gambling. 2014 was also the first time ever that I joined a gym and was also the first time that I bought a brand new car.
 With June bringing us the highs and lows of the World Cup, it also brought trips to the pub with friends to watch games as well as spending two weeks house and dog-sitting for my mum and stepdad whilst they were on holiday. June soon faded into July and included a girls day out at Lakeside shopping centre and preparations for the festival in August.
  Sundown festival in August was incredible. My first festival experience consisted of 3 nights of uncomfortable sleep, dodgy port-a-loos & a fair amount of alcohol alongside incredible music. Getting caught up in multiple mosh-pits during Tinie Tempah's set and having John Newman confront a idiot in the front row of his set were memories that have stuck with me from that weekend. I also can't forget how we stood in the queue to get in on the Friday afternoon for nearly 4 hours, convinced that my arms and shoulders were going to fall off. Overall though a drama free weekend which resulted in a case of the post festival blues.

Find something you enjoy and you'll never have to work a day in your life:
2014 has also been good to me in the form of work. It's been a great year for working hard and productively whilst also enjoying it at the same time. The company has been getting busier and with that has brought challenges but it has all been worth it. I couldn't have asked for better people to work with and they all help to make each day that little bit better. 2014 was definitely the year that I started to feel more confident and relaxed in my job and I think that has shown through, especially during the second part of the year. I have been learning and developing all the time and the hard work was recognised through the 100% mystery shopper pass rate. My goal for next year is to continue that high standard of work and to just continue to get better.

It is better to have one friend that you can trust than to have fifty that you cannot tell anything:
My job is responsible for more than just paying the bills and earning a living. It has also introduced me to some of the greatest people that I have in my life. One of my biggest highlights of this year has undoubtedly been the friendship that has developed between myself and now one of my best and most trusted friends. She has helped me through so much this year whether that be making a bad day at work better or just listening to any problems I've had I am so thankful for everything. I am especially grateful for the way that she has helped me to get on the way towards my personal goals by introducing me to a healthier way of life and becoming a huge inspiration for me.
  As well as a handful of new friends, the friends that have been there for me through everything over the years have been a huge part of my year. These people are all special to me in their own way and I appreciate everything that they have done and continue to do for me. My birthday was just a small reminder this year of all the people I have around me and how lucky I am to have them too. Even though I may not see them everyday like when we were at school it doesn't change anything.

Just because you are alone doesn't mean that you are lonely. After all you are the only person you spend your whole life with:
One thing that I have learnt this year is that I am starting to feel more comfortable with spending time by myself. Before I always felt the need to be around people and have someone to talk to constantly either through text, phone or social media but now the thought of spending the day alone or going somewhere by myself is actually quite relaxing. Of course I still love spending time with others and going out and doing exciting things but I also know that it is normal to want to spend a few hours alone to clear your mind. For the first time ever I've actually wanted to turn my phone off for a few hours and drive the long way home from work every once in a while. I find it so easy to find the perfect balance between the two and although it was scary at first it has been worth it. I love the freedom of being able to do what I want without having to tell everyone what I'm doing and answering endless questions. I feel great after being able to say that I have done something because that's what I wanted to do rather than because I had to or was asked to do it.
 I would also like to think that I've become a more balanced person this year in that I have kept my life as stress free as possible and removed any unnecessary drama too. There are moments this year that I could have let some situations become full of drama but I kept a cool head and carefree approach which brought positive results! Life is too short to be caught up in situations that belong in a high school & I've found that the best way for me to enjoy life is to keep it simple.

 There is no secret pill or shortcuts. Hard work and dedication is the key to a healthy life as well as the correct mindset:
Weight and appearance has always been a tough subject for me to come to terms with. Throughout school I was picked on and although thankfully never seriously bullied I still had to deal with the pressures of not having the 'perfect' body. One of the hardest parts of my life has been to deal with comments from people who I actually considered friends at the time. Ever since I can remember I have never been happy with my body or the way I look yet I have never fully disclosed this to anybody or even written it down until now.
 However it was around July of this year that I decided to do something about it. Not because of those people who made me feel like shit all those years ago or because of the obsession with the 'perfect' figure splayed across the media but because I actually wanted to do it for me. I wanted to feel great within myself and I have two of my closest friends to thank for finally making me decide to adapt my lifestyle.
  I started my Protein World journey in July after discovering them through a friend. I researched the success stories and also the company before taking the £60 plunge. I purchased their 'weight loss collection' which consists of two sets of tablets named the 'fat melter' and 'multi vitamin' & 1kg of protein powder 'The Slender Blend' dedicated to aid weight loss. The pack also came with two booklets containing recipes and guidelines as well as the shaker to make these shakes. The concept was simple, you replace two meals a day with these shakes and then for your meal you have something lean and clean which basically means either fish or chicken with lots of vegetables. There are loads of variations to the shakes you can make and a list of foods you should and shouldn't avoid as well as meal plans and a great support network on social media to mention a few advantages and I managed to stick at it for a good month.
  After the first month I started to notice some results but felt that I needed to be doing more and more so my friend introduced me to the gym. I actually joined a gym 20 minutes away from my house where I didn't know anybody so that I wouldn't bump into anyone I knew whilst I was there. After the gym induction I went through a phase where I became obsessed to an extent where I was going to work followed by the gym up to 6 times a week. A typical day would start for me at 7.30am getting up for work and after finishing at 5.30pm I would be at the gym to at least 8.30pm. I would then not get home until at least 9pm and then was too tired to do anything so regularly went to bed at 10pm.
 Over the past few months I've realised that I can't maintain that intensity and with Christmas and New Year I have slipped up a bit which I do feel guilty for. 2015 is going to be a year where I make a plan and stick to it as well as continuing to work towards my goal weight. I still have a long way to go but I'm now feeling refreshed and ready to start again after a short break from it all. At the beginning of December I felt the best I had ever felt and this was confirmed by a trip to the nurse where I had lost 11kg in 5 months. I was also getting compliments from friends and family members and this was the first time I realised that it was because I actually wanted to become healthier for myself that I was seeing results. Weight loss isn't all about the physical side though, it does affect you mentally and physiologically and it has completely changed my attitude and thoughts towards eating and drinking. For example I am now conscious of everything I eat and drink but I also find sleeping much easier and I have so much more energy throughout the day.
  The hardest part I've found is the feeling of guilt when you do slip up occasionally and also the frustration when you realise how far you could be if you didn't have that treat or didn't put off the gym that one time. However one unhealthy meal isn't going to undo the all the hard work just as long as you don't let it become a habit.
 In 2015 I hope to continue to work myself towards my target goal weight and achieve the other fitness and health goals that I have set myself. In particular I really want to stick to my goal of drinking at least 2 litres of water a day and to go to the gym at least three times a week. I'd also like to try out a few of the new 'celeb' fitness DVD's and I've set myself weekly and monthly weight targets as well as created some challenges to make it all a bit more fun. I think I will also be documenting my progress a lot more this year because I found it to be a huge help during the second part of 2014 and it is good to look back and see how far you have come.

I may sound like a broken record but now it is time for a compromise:
Since I created this blog a few years ago it has always been a personal target to make it as good as I can. A 'good' blog meets so many different criteria ranging from its content to the analytics to the appearance and so much more. Back in the Summer of 2013 I really got into the rhythm of writing and posting regularly and then other parts of life became a priority. I still wanted to write posts but every time I sat down to start typing I wouldn't know where to begin. I would type a few words, delete them and then repeat until I was frustrated with myself and gave up. Blogging has always been a hobby for me and a form of escape similar to way that you can forget about the rest of the world when you are immersed into a book. However the more I didn't post or even write or draft a post the harder I found it. So I had a break. I stopped feeling guilty about not posting because at the end of the day this is meant to be something fun. It doesn't matter if you have thousands reading your blog or just one, there is still pressure I feel to create content that you feel proud of.
  Therefore, another of my resolutions for this year is to rediscover the feeling I got when I was posting stuff I was proud of and to not just post any old thing that would mean that I was posting everyday. I would now rather one brilliant post a month than a quick 5 minute rushed post everyday.

So here is to 2015. A new year, a new chance to make memories. The year can be as good as you choose to make it. After all, no-one else is living your life:
I hope to make 2015 one of the best. I know although some parts of the year will be influenced by factors that you cannot control, at the end of the day I am responsible for making things happen and so when I look back this time next year I hope I will be able to say that I made the most of every opportunity that comes my way. 
  I wish all of my family, friends and colleagues all the best for the new year & hope that they have a blessed and memorable year too, full of happiness & good health.

We are all given the same blank canvas called 'life.' How we choose to fill it is our decision. If I look back at the end of my life and remember more positives than negatives, I'll be happy.

February 2014 Favourites!

Throughout February I had been loving a variety of different things. Although slightly belated (with it being almost time for a March favourites) here are the things that I had loved throughout February.

Beauty/Makeup

Remington Pearl Ci95 Curling Wand:
Ever since my sister blew up my trusted Babyliss curlers at the end of last summer, I had been dying to find a new pair. With Babyliss not making the curlers I had before anymore I was forced into trying something different. After reading loads of reviews on many different products and deciding that £179 would be a lot to spend on curlers (sorry Babyliss Perfect Curl!) I opted for the Ci95 Curling wand from Remington. From amazon at the time they only cost me £16.95 and I've love using them. You can change the temperature on these and create both loose and tighter curls. What makes these even better is because it is a wand you can get the curls to start right near the root, unlike typical curlers with the clamp function. I've loved using them this month!

TRESemme Salon Finish Extra Hold (4) Hairspray:
This next favourite is something of an old, rediscovered favourite. As I've been using my new curlers recently I've found that I've been more hairspray as usual and I've gone back to the TRESemme Salon Finish hairspray, purely because it is so good. It makes my curls stay put all day and I've even found that my hair is still curly the morning after too. The spray also doesn't make my hair heavy or greasy looking and I'm glad I've started to use it again.

Dove Style+Care Heat Protect Spray:
A few months ago I purchased the Dove Style + Care heat protect spray and to be honest I've been in love with it since I first starting using it. If I had written a favourites post for December or January, this would have featured. The product itself is so lightweight on the hair and doesn't weigh it down or make it greasy. It also smells amazing and I always apply it before blow-drying my hair and I've noticed that the condition of my hair has improved!

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub:
I recently reviewed this product because I have loved using it since the moment I brought it. It is the lip scrub in bubblegum from Lush and it has been a saviour for my lips. Costing around £5.95 it has been fully worth the price and I've noticed a difference in the condition of my lips, they have been less chapped and generally healthier looking.

Food/Drink

Chiquitos:
Very recently the Mexican restaurant Chiquito's opened in a town near where I live. Since trying it out on New Year's Day it has become one of my favourite places to eat. I love Mexican food so immediately I knew I was onto a winner and the food there is so delicious. The prices are also reasonable and the atmosphere is brilliant in there!

Music

Bastille- All This Bad Blood:
I have been a HUGE fan of Bastille ever since their debut album 'Bad Blood' was released. I made sure that I ordered it as soon as I could and absolutely fell in love with it. It is a big contender for the best album that I have ever listened to. After admittedly playing the album to death I was overjoyed when I learnt that they would be releasing a second part of the album called 'All This Bad Blood.' I pre-ordered this album and immediately put it on as soon as it arrived and it I safe to say I fell in love this this too. My favourite songs from the album change from time to time but I love 'Haunt', 'Laughter Lines', 'Poet' and their cover of 'What Would You Do.'
  Like the original album I have played All This Bad Blood to death, to the point that I had to stop listening to it throughout January. However this month it has been back in my car and just listening to it on my way to work makes me feel really happy. The next step is to try and see them live, and with them performing at V Festival in the summer, I really hope I can get tickets!

Films/TV

Criminal Minds Season 9 (Mon 9pm Sky Living):
Ever since my sister introduced me to crime series Criminal Minds a few years ago, I have been hooked. This program basically follows a team of behavioural analysts who work together to solve murders and is a bit similar to CSI. However, the show is now in it's 9th series which have started just recently on Sky Living (Channel 107) on Monday nights at 9pm and I have loved seeing my favourite characters on screen again. It seems as though each series has got better and better and it has really kept me guessing throughout. Love it! 

New Series of The Middle (Tues 9pm Comedy Central):
Another program which I have loved watching over the past few years is The Middle. Totally different from Criminal Minds, The Middle is a comedy program about a family of 5 and their day to day problems and situations. Very easy viewing and hilarious, you can catch the new series on Comedy Central at 9pm on a Tuesday.

New Series of Two And A Half Men (Mon 9pm Comedy Central):
The start of 2014 has brought a load of new series for a number of programs and another one is Two and A Half Men. Which I have also loved watching throughout January. Hilarious. Also on Comedy Central on a Monday at 9pm, which you may notice clashes with Criminal Minds, but thank goodness for Sky+ haha.

New Series of The Magaluf Weekender (Sun 9pm ITV2)
The final program that I have enjoyed watching throughout January is the surprise, surprise, new series of The Magaluf Weekender. I think I may have featured this program in my October favourites, but it is back again and better than ever with a new rep and even more drama between the reps! Unfortunately the program has now finished, but I think it is returning in the summer for a new series! 

Random

Bingo:
This month I went to my first ever proper bingo night, where I gambled actual money in attempt to win even more money for matching numbers in a line or by getting full house. This is strangely addicting and I can see why many people spend hours in there. So far I've won £20 so that's not too bad
Quiz Nights:
Since early October I have been attending a quiz night at a local pub on a Thursday evening with friends from work and it has been a lot of fun. Basically you are in teams and each person pays £1 to play. That money then becomes the jackpot (usually around £50) and then you play a family fortunes type quiz where you are asked 10 questions and expected to think of the 'top answer' (worth 2 points) and then four other answers (worth 1.) At the end, the team with the highest score wins and then has to pick one of about four envelopes containing different prizes. If the jackpot isn't picked it then rolls over to the next week until it gets won which means that the jackpot can get really high.
Formula One Winter Testing:
With the 2014 F1 season starting in a matter of weeks, throughout Feb I have enjoyed hearing about and reading about the testing that the teams have been going through. I also loved watching all the teams unveil their title contenders and it has made me even more excited for the start of the season and the end of the 4 month break from the sport!

That's just about everything that I've been loving this month!

January Sale Shopping

 

It's no secret that the January sales are notorious for big deals and bargain finds. Due to overspending in the lead up to Christmas this year I didn't do too much sale shopping this year, but what I did do was buy loads of shoes. (This was whilst I was on a shoe buying ban, oh dear.)

 

 

 

My obsession with shoes is now getting a little out of hand, but once I aw these gorgeous burgundy chunky boots in the New Look sale, I knew that they would be going home with me. I persuaded myself that they were an absolute 'must-have' and I'm so glad I picked them up as I know I would have regretted it otherwise.

 

 

One amazing thing about these boots are that they have a zip on the inside of the shoe, which means that you aren't spending forever and a day unlacing them everytime you want to wear them. The laces are more of a decorative feature and I haven't even tied them whilst I've been wearing them.

Another bonus is that I can actually walk in them without looking and feeling like an idiot and a huge bonus is that I can safely drive in them! (It's always a pain when you have to take a flat pair of shoes to drive in when all you want to do is  wear heels.) These beauties were reduced from £29.99 to £22.49 in the New Look sale, but honestly I would have paid full price for them anyway! They also come in grey too I think.

 

This winter it is safe to say that I have gone a little bit boot crazy. However, I had my eye on these cut out boots from New Look from the moment they were released into stores. I love the cut out detailing on them and that they are a little bit different from other boots and shoes I owned. So imagine my delight when I spotted them in the sale in Cambridge, and I got the for a ridiculous bargain. Originally retailing at £30, I scooped these up for £12! Admittedly, I haven't actually worn them yet and I have no idea if I can sensibly walk in them, but at £12 it was worth it.

 

So, these heels pictured above weren't actually purchased in any type of sale, but as they are so gorgeous I thought I would feature them in this post. After realising that you can never have too many pairs of black heels (or shoes for that matter) I decided to firstly buy this pair to wear to my work's Christmas meal.

I think they look really sophisticated and I love the t-bar styled straps which give me a bit more support and doesn't make me feel like I'm going to fall out of my shoes every two minutes. Also I loved the price of these, only £24.99 from H&M. The only bad thing about the is that they aren't particularly comfortable to wear, but with some gel cushions in I can easily last all night in them.

 

A few years ago I received a pair of dark brown brogues from New Look for Christmas and wore them until there was practically nothing left of them. Since then however I haven't had the chance to repurchase some replacement brown brogues and so whilst buying other shoes in the New Look sale, I came across these. Originally priced at £14.99, they had been marked in the sale at £8 which was a great find for me. Even better, when I got them to the till I was charged £6 and I wasn't complaining! 

 

Finally, I thought I would add two pairs of boots which I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas this year. Above are my ankle boots from Topshop, which I actually got for £45 after they had been reduced from something like £70. These boots are so comfortable and go with pretty much everything and are so easy to slip on and off, they really are great.

 Below are probably my most worn and most loved boots this season. Similarly to the boots above, these ankle boots are black yet have this lovely buckle detailing on them to make them stand out just a little bit more. They are also my most expensive pair of shoes, costing me £60 from River Island. They are so worth the money though, and I think I've been living in them since I unwrapped them on Christmas day!

 

With January coming to an end, the sales are thinning out. However, this means that soon spring and summer clothes will be hitting the stores ready for my favourite time of the year! I can't wait to start shopping for summery clothes, although I will miss wearing my boots!

 

 

Things To Do Before 2014

It's hard to believe how quickly 2013 has flown by. Although there are a lot of things that I have done and achieved this year, I still want to make the most of the rest of the year. I thought that I would share some of the things that I want to do between now and the end of 2013. 

1. Visit Madame Tussauds in London
Out of all the tourist attractions in London, one that I've never had the chance to visit is Madame Tussauds. It's always been something that I have wanted to do and see all of the waxworks there. The main reason why I want to visit before the end of 2013 is because a waxwork of triple F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel is currently being displayed. It is only there for a few months so I would love to go down there before it leaves.  

2. Go Shopping at Westfield Stratford City, London
As I live in a small town the shopping options aren't amazing. Even the next town from me which is bigger isn't that much better and so I love it when I get to go shopping in bigger places such as Norwich and Cambridge. However, I really love shopping in London and the new-ish shopping centre in Stratford is amazing! Everything you need is all in one place and it is so easy to get to on the train and the weather doesn't even need to be that nice as you are indoors!

3. The Clothes Show Live, Birmingham
Since I studied textiles and product design as part of both my GCSE's and A Level's, I have been going to The Clothes Show Live in Birmingham almost every year for the past 7 years. It is seriously an amazing day out, and there are so many stalls there selling everything from fashion items to makeup to tarot card readings. Many beauty and fashion brands are there and offer either discount on their products or you can buy goodie bags full of their products for a really good price. Last year when I went, I bought a Rimmel Goodie bag for a £5 and it had in it a scandal eyes mascara and a 1000 kisses lip tint amongst other things such as an eyeshadow palette and nail polishes. Usually the mascara itself would be over £5 so it was a real bargain and this is just a sample of what you can get there. As I have now finished Sixth Form I won't be able to go with the school but I'm hoping I can get down there myself. Oh, and as well as all these stalls, your ticket gives you access to the catwalk show, which is always brilliant and there are usually some semi-naked men!

4. Visit friends at university
In September, some of my friends moved away from our hometown to go to University. Obviously because some now live the best part of 4 hours away I don't get to see them everyday like I was used to so it would be amazing if I had the opportunity to visit them someday. This also would tie in with number 5 on this list, an added bonus!

5. Travel to different parts of the UK
Travelling and seeing the world has always interested me. I live in a small town and so it intrigues me to think about what else is out there in the world and how other people live. Although I've already been to other countries, there are many places in the UK which I have yet to visit and so I would like to try and visit new towns and counties before 2014 is here.

6. Save money for 2014
I'm not very good at saving money. I don't have any form of a savings account and so one of my goals for between now and the end of the year is to try and save as much as possible. It may be difficult with Christmas and birthdays coming up but I want to set myself a target saving amount and see if I can reach it.

7. Visit Colchester Zoo
This last one is one of my summer plans which never happened. I love going to the zoo and seeing all the animals and the one at Colchester is the closest to where I live. Although I've been there numerous times I really enjoy it and it is a great day out. I also always try to take my camera as you can get some beautiful pictures there. 


These are just a few of the things that I would love to be able to achieve and do before the end of the year. At the beginning of 2014 I will look back and see which ones came to fruition and I will probably also set some more goals for 2014!